Euroclear receives Foreign Bank Branch Licence in Japan

Brussels/Tokyo, 17 November 2017 – Euroclear Bank, the international central securities depository, has been granted a licence from Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) to establish a foreign bank branch under the Japan Banking Act.

Euroclear Bank Japan Branch also expects to gain FSA approval by mid-December to engage in Foreign Bank Agency Business (FBAB), acting as an intermediary for Euroclear Bank SA/NV headquarters in Brussels.

This will allow Euroclear Bank Japan Branch to further enhance the way it supports Japanese customers. Since 1987, Euroclear has operated a representative office in Tokyo to support Japan-based users of its securities settlement system.

Valerie Urbain, CEO of Euroclear Bank, said: “We are strengthening our capabilities in Japan to provide a more convenient and comprehensive service to our clients and help them conduct their business more efficiently. This reflects our deep commitment to the Japanese market and our confidence in the expansion of our business opportunities in Asia Pacific as the securities financing market matures.”

Note to editors

About Euroclear Bank

Euroclear Bank provides settlement and related securities services for cross-border transactions involving domestic and international bonds, equities, derivatives and investment funds. Serving major financial institutions located in more than 90 countries, Euroclear Bank, based in Brussels, is part of the Euroclear group. Euroclear Bank is rated AA+ by Fitch Ratings and AA by Standard & Poor’s.

As well as Euroclear Bank, the Euroclear group includes Euroclear Belgium, Euroclear Finland, Euroclear France, Euroclear Nederland, Euroclear Sweden and Euroclear UK & Ireland. The Euroclear group settled the equivalent of EUR 655 trillion in securities transactions in 2016, representing 196 million domestic and cross-border transactions. In the first half of 2017, the group held EUR 28 trillion in assets for clients.